I love a good Disney Princess book! Rebel Rose was an absolute delight to read. I enjoyed getting to see so many familiar characters back again, with enough new ones to make it interesting. The historical situation was a great choice; it was wonderful to see beloved characters placed in the real-life events of their countries.

There were so many twists that I was never sure who was supposed to be on which side. I finished this book in one sitting and am already dying for the next one!

This is more than a retelling because it’s what comes after the “happily ever after”. It’s set in revolutionary France and I loved al the historical characters and nods to the time period. Belle is a strong woman, trying to find her voice as she goes from commoner to princess. I really loved Belle and the storyline with the historical spin

Thank you so much to Disney Hyperion for this arc through NetGalley.
Emma Theriault is an author to watch! This is an amazing retelling/ continuation of Beauty and the Beast, taking place just after the events of the curse being broken. It’s an interesting look into the French Revolution that we all know, adding in the kingdom of Belle and Lio.
I adored how modern Belle is politically as well as in general. It’s very refreshing to see and the explanation of the curse’s origin is a perfect tie in. The villains were so well written that I kept almost wondering if they were the villains or not and it kept me on my toes (I totally knew that the main villain was a villain but I did wonder sometimes if I was too confident!)
I honestly can not wait to see what else Emma writes and see which princesses are next for this series!!!

I LOVED THIS!
A Disney princess book set during the French Revolution,,, YES PLEASE! The story was absolutely delightful and a continuation of the original story that we all know and love. I was instantly sucked in.

Rebel Rose is set after the marriage of Belle and the Beast also known as The Prince, the happily wedded couple is headed to France to see The princes Cousin Bastien without explaining his ten year absence ( the curse has been erased from the memories of everyone except those that lived it). While the Prince goes to an audience in Versailles, Belle explores a magical mirror shop where a strange women urges her to follow her heart and save Aveyon .Belle then witnesses a beheading and a mob in the streets, In an attempt to prevent the revolution from happening in Aveyon Belle and Lio return home to their castle instead of continuing the travels they had planned. Unfortunately trouble is already brewing at home and danger is seemingly everywhere. Who can Belle trust? Family?Friends? Can she even trust herself!?!

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Disney books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love Beauty and the Beast, so naturally when I came across a continuation of their story, I jumped right on it. The Queen's Council Rebel Rose followed Belle as she navigates ruling beside her husband. This takes place during the time of the French Revolution and the author did a great job of weaving that event and this story together. For me, this book read like a movie so it made for an easy reading experience.

Overall, I gave this 3 stars because I wish there had been just a little more interaction between Beast and Belle.
However, I would recommend this to anyone who loves Beauty and the Beast or just Disney in general.

I have a mix of feelings about this title I love concept of a blended fairy tale retelling meets historical fiction. It was great to see familiar faces mingled with new ones. Bu this took me a while to get into. I am, ultimately, glad I stuck it out. The story definitely picked up as it progressed. Though I do have to ding it a bit for taking so long to become engaging-and also for making Lio (aka Beast) a bit of a dolt (listen to your wife!).

Was this story predictable? Yes. So predictable. Will readers enjoy it? Yes. They will. I am intrigued with how this series will continue.

For Libraries: I think this is a good one to take a chance on if you have fans of Disney, fairy tale retellings or historical fiction.

I'm a bit torn on this one. It felt long and slow moving, but I wouldn't call it boring. Maybe just a low build? Belle has always been one of my favorite Disney princesses, so it was great to read a story about the life right after the curse. Belle and Lio both showed real depth and character development.. I also enjoyed how tidbits from the original story were used in this one.

I was really excited about the premise of this book. Disney and history are two of my favorite things, so combining the two was a dream come true for me. On top of that, it’s a Beauty and the Beast sequel. It had everything going for it. I was really enjoying this book at the start. I loved seeing how Belle was handling her new life as the spouse of a royal. However, as the story progressed, i found that Belle wasn’t. She felt very one-note throughout and there wasn’t a lot of character development. Also, everything I loved about Belle from the movie seemed to be missing here. The loving, selfless dreamer she was in the movie was replaced by a shell of her former self. I found it hard to root for her, which is so sad considering she’s always been one of my favorite heroines.

The other characters were pretty monotonous and predictable, too. In fact, the whole story was pretty predictable. There just weren’t any aspects of this story that kept me interested in the outcome. I’m still looking forward to the other books in this series; I love the concept of it and think some great stories could be brought to life. However, this first entry fell way short for me.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Rebel Rose in exchange for an honest review.

Rebel Rose is a 'what happens next' adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast set against the political climate of a France on the cusp of revolution. B&B seems to be everyone's favourite fairytale to adapt for YA audiences so I've read a plethora of B&B retellings this year, so let's talk about how Rebel Rose fails as one.

First and foremost, to retell/adapt a story, you have to deeply love the original. This doesn't mean that you think its flawless (because then what would the point of adaptation actually be) but retellings/adaptations should always be a labor of love. The story you create should thrive because of the aspects from the source material it chooses to use, not despite it. Now, Rebel Rose is a Disney published continuation of a Disney property so it definitely has a lot less flexibility than adaptations of the original fairytale, but oh my god does this book seem to really, really want you to forget all of the original character's personalities.

Let's talk about Belle because... there's a lot there. Belle's married to the beast (called Lio in this version) but refuses to take the title of princess or queen because of... reasons. Her big arc is to stop being meek and passive and realize that she was worthy of voicing her opinions and taking the crown all along. The problem here is that our movie Belle already was headstrong. If I'm remembering correctly, this book even starts off with her being described as headstrong. She's one of the least meek pre-Princess and the Frog mainline up (aka, Nala and Meg don't count) princesses so having that be her arc made no sense. I honestly originally just assumed her character arc would have more to do with her learning about the more subtle ways progress had to be achieved in aristocratic societies (Harper from ACSDAL is a really good example of that) but instead we get her constantly saying she's unsure of herself with the book also going 'but remember, no she's not!'.

Brief obligatory section on Lio because his sections in this book were also brief. Belle had more chemistry with literally every other character in this book and I hated him.

We really have 2 main cast additions here, Bastien and Marguerite. Bastien is Lio's duc cousin who Belle meets and goes "hmmm he seems sus" so me saying he's the bad guy doesn't feel at all like a spoiler which was a shame because a lot of this book was spent trying to make the reader go "is he a bad guy?" even though all intrigue was killed by having our protagonist hate him for little to no reason and spoil the reveal. Marguerite's main plot point was being a secret gay with most of her significance plotwise being Belle going "hmm I wonder what her secret is?" but again, that's not really a spoiler because she's just so heavily queer-coded from the moment she's introduced. I honestly think Marguerite existed mostly for PR so the book could go "look! Bechtal test! Female badass friend!" and also so the book could try to redeem themselves by adding positive queer-rep for whatever the hell happened with LeFou who yes, is still a canon gay character in this. They both bored me but at least they gave us someone for Belle to have some semblance of chemistry with.

The last straw for me was definitely LeFou and the choices made there but that's definitely a spoiler so let me just say... what the hell was that?

Have you ever watched Beauty and the Beast and afterwards found yourself wondering what ‘happily ever after’ actually looked like? Well, if you have you’re in luck, as Emma Theriault’s upcoming novel, The Queen’s Council: Rebel Rose, does just that.

“Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue-and a touch of magic.
It's 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress's curse, restoring the Beast to his human form, and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it's only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.
Belle has always dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her roots as a commoner, and her future as a royal. When she stumbles across a mysterious, ancient magic that brings with it a dire warning, she must question whether she is ready for the power being thrust on her, and if being Queen is more than just a title.”

The Queen’s Council: Rebel Rose begins only a few months after the lifting of the curse, with a trip to Paris where Prince Lio (although most of us know his as the Beast or Prince Adam) must present himself to King Louis of France after his 10 year absence from court due the curse. Much to the surprise of both Belle and Prince Lio they arrive to find France in a state of unrest and King Louis desperate for support and funds. While Lio attends the King at court with his cousin, Belle takes time to explore Paris and unwittingly stumbles into the middle of the growing unrest and is forced to come to terms with what it could mean for her home. As the story progresses Lio and Belle return home to deal with the fallout of France’s revolution, ultimately leading Belle to step into a role she never wanted: Queen of Aveyon.
As the first in a new series of YA novels to be released by Disney-Hyperion that will explore what happened to our favorite Disney princesses once they became queens, and Rebel Rose stand as a strong start to the series. The novel digs deeper into the character of Belle as imagined by author Emma Theriault, while also attempting to create a better picture of Prince Lio. Unfortunately, the story is so Belle centric that although the character of Prince Lio is given some interesting features, such as some PTSD from his time as the beast, he is often forced offstage and overlooked in favor of Belle. However, Theriault did a wonderful job bringing to life some of everyone’s favorite supporting characters in her portrayals of Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip, making them every bit as lovable on the page as they were on the screen. Not only that be the new characters introduced throughout the story, such as Prince Lio’s cousin Bastion, are well crafted and fit seamlessly into the world as Theriault created it.
Beyond the characters, Rebel Rose is also a stunning example of what can be done with historical fiction in terms of accuracy, as it makes multiple references to actual people and events of the French Revolution. This includes multiple references to French philosophers and their writings as well as events like the taking of Versailles by the people. That being said, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the accurate descriptions of the unrest and violence occurring at the time as well, as I feel as though this area can often be glossed over in favor of romanticism. There is no shying away from the reality of what being royalty or nobility meant in 1789 France and its principalities, in fact the story hinges on these details. It is refreshing to come across a YA novel that well written and still clings to historical accuracy as much as possible.
All in all, this was a very enjoyable read. In fact, I read the entire book in a single sitting on my day off. Rebel Rose is a perfect book for teens (and adults) looking to jump back into the world of Beauty and the Beast or even just looking for a nice piece of historical fiction.

DNF'd around 30% of the way. I usually really enjoy retellings, and I love everything Disney, but this just didn't do it for me. It was awkward and felt really off brand for Disney as a whole to publish a story like this. I didn't mind that it was after the curse, and thought the entire concept as a whole was super unique and interesting, but the writing was flat and the author made Belle a really dull character. I was not impressed with the story or the direction it was going, and felt that Belle and the Beast were portrayed as awkward older counterparts to who they usually are.

Beauty and the Beast mixed with historical events and exploring the question of what happens after “happily ever after?” The story follows Belle and her Beast as they are now happily married and curse free, and must integrate into political court. The story takes place during the french revolution where the people are fighting back against the rich and even has, you guessed it, Marie Antionette. The story is mainly focuses on Belle refusing to be a “princess” or a “queen” and essentially going on about how she refuses to change herself or take on the role and responsibilities.... even though she literally married into it and constantly goes on and on about how she wants to represent the people and fight for equality. See, I was struggling to get through this book because I was just so frustrated with Belle. She doesn’t act like the Belle you think she would be, she ignores a lot of red flags, and is so stubborn and set... I just did not enjoy it. The story drags for a bit and doesn’t really pick up till the last quarter of the book. I just couldn’t fathom Belle’s reasoning and the way she was acting, she was constantly saying how much she loved her husband and how she wouldn’t change a thing but then she wouldn’t really do anything to support him as he was dealing with political decisions, she wouldn’t talk to him about important conversations, and the thing that kept being brought up that truly got on my nerves was the “we never talk about the curse or how you kept me prisoner for a while” ... that is not a healthy relationship at all. They avoided difficult things, they didn’t really compromise in their relationship, and just... I really wished I had liked this book. It had so much potential, and the cover is gorgeous. I was all on board for an empowering reimagining of Beauty and the Beast mixed in with 1798 French politics.

*Thank you Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I'm giving this 3.5 stars for a retelling/continuation of Beauty and the Beast, but 4 stars as a book on its own. I hope that will make more sense as I continue with my review.

First of all, I love the cover and the premise of this story. I was hooked from the moment I heard Beauty and the Beast, and it quickly became one of my most anticipated reads for 2020. While I enjoyed it, I do think one should know going in that this isn't the Belle and Beast from the Disney movie. I mean, technically it is, but not how I imagined them. Let me explain.

Rebel Rose follows Belle and Lio (the Beast) after they break the curse with their love, causing the Beast to turn human and the castle and its inhabitant to return to what they once were. Newly married, the couple travels to Paris as part of their tour-of-the-country honeymoon. Only, Paris isn't the city Belle once knew and loved. Set at the onset of the French Revolution (Bastille Day included), Paris is full of riots and marches as the people urge their King hiding in Versailles to hear them. Frightened of what will happen to their own kingdom of Aveyon, Belle and Lio, along with Lio's cousin from Paris, return to Aveyon to stop the unrest from following them home.

Readers follow them along as they fight to make the changes necessary to keep Aveyon safe and happy from the unrest in the rest of France. Revolution is coming, but can Belle and Lio stop it from taking over the kingdom they just saved from a 10-year curse?

I loved the idea of historical fantasy mixed with a fairytale retelling, however, the version of Lio and Belle I got from the book is not the Belle and Lio I loved from the movie. Belle adamantly fought against the title of princess and queen, to the point where I found myself annoyed as she put herself in front of the kingdom she supposedly holds dear to her heart after years of yearning to leave it behind.

The writing style itself leaned more towards a running course of Belle's thoughts, which was an interesting approach to the story. But, she spent too much time wanting to be the peasant she once was rather than embracing her role and changing things to suit her fellow commoners. I didn't get a lot of the "rebel" qualities from her that I felt when watching the movie. I felt as if she took a step back and became a different person.

Lio also felt like a step back from the Beast we got to know in the movie. But, this is probably rather obvious seeing as he's no longer a beast. However, I think part of my expected those hard parts of him to stick around in his personality in some ways, especially when it came to being a leader. But, that was not the case. Instead, I felt like he and Belle both became meek and mild, which was a little disappointing.

However, the book itself was pretty great. If you don't look at it as a retelling or continuation of Beauty and the Beast, then I think it makes a really interesting historical fiction book. I loved the addition of the French Revolution, and I also loved the new characters in the book. I think without the connection to Belle and her beast, the book stands very well on its own and is quite enjoyable!

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie, so I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

I think the biggest problem was the combining of the world Disney created with the real world. Disney's world is a magical place, and no matter how dark things get, there's still a lightheartedness to it. The real world, on the other hand, is a stark contrast. Rebel Rose takes place during the French Revolution, which is definitely not a light topic. I expected the tone to be a bit darker and grittier, but the reality is a strange combination of the two. I keep picturing the scene from Sleeping Beauty where Flora and Merryweather are fighting over Aurora's dress color, and the result is a mess of blue and pink (not the end scene where it switches back and forth, but the mess they create while still designing the dress). Some moments seemed darker, some more lighthearted, but somehow the two just didn't come together to create a cohesive story.

I also had issue with the characters. They just seemed to fall flat, whether that's Belle, or the Beast, or his cousin, or the beloved side characters. Just like the world, the characters in the book felt like a weird combination of those we know and love from Disney, and the characters that would have felt more at home in the real world during the French Revolution. I liked that Theriault tried to address PTSD in the book (both with Belle and the Beast) but even this seemed to fall flat.

The one thing I really enjoyed in this story is the concept of The Queen's Council. It really is a neat idea, and I look forward to seeing how it's played out in the other stories Disney has planned. Kudos to Theriault for bringing this concept to life.

Sadly another DNF.
I'm very disappointed. This was an incredible story concept that fell wayyyy short. I found it cheesy and hard to follow, and I wasn't a fan or the writing style so I didn't care to finish.
(Many thanks to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion Publishing for providing me with an e-ARC!)

This book can't seem to decide what it wants to be when it grows up. Love story? Fairy tale? Historical fiction? Tale of Two Cities meets Beauty and the Beast? Political polemic? The result is a meandering, drab storyline that moves with the alacrity of a three-toed sloth. (I had Margeurite pegged in about three heartbeats..)

After Belle breaks an enchantress's curse and marries the newly restored, new and improved Prince Lio (formerly the Beast), she struggles with taking on the title of "Princess." All this while 1789 France teeters on the brink of revolution and civil war.

Later, after the Kingdom of Aveyon secedes, Belle can't figure out whether or not she wants to wear the Queen's crown. This takes about 15 chapters, with not much else going on besides a lot of hand-wringing and second-guessing. Yawn.

It has potential if you have the patience. If you don't, better stock up on No Doze.

#TheQueensCouncilRebelRose
#NetGalley

This book was a mixture of many things good and bad. I really liked the premise and most retellings I'm game for, so this book was up my alley for sure. There were times I liked the book and enjoyed it, and yet other times it was frustrating and not what I had hoped it would be. The hard part with referencing a major movie and keeping the main cast of characters for your book is that I already have ideas and thoughts about them, so trying to have these characters continue on, you need to be careful because it's not characters you created. It was just not a fluid book for me, the characters lacked and no real progression was made except for Belle in a way. Not to discourage readers from this book as it had it's moments that were fun and enjoyable, and if you like Beauty and the Beast you might enjoy this book. However, for me this book fell too flat to be something exciting or a favorite. It was a decent read, but not something I'm going to be chatting about.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault was a treat for Belle fans. While the Disney movies ends (appropriately) at a happily ever after, Rebel Rose continues Belle's story and shows how she adjusts to her new royal role and the growing turbulence in France of the French Revolution. I appreciated how the author kept Belle true to herself (a free spirit always seeking answers and knowledge) and I also enjoyed Belle's relationship with Lio (who was having his own struggles being back in the world as a prince, but still retaining some of his beastly behaviors).

I have always enjoyed Disney character backstorys as well as story continuations after the happily ever where the movies usually end, and this is a good read. Fans of Belle, fairy tales and Disney will find a lot to like here.

It took me a while to get into this book. It's hard reading a story based on a character that you have known your whole life but I was intrigued by the idea that the 'after' story took place during the French Revolution. For the most part I think the author did an excellent job staying true to Belle's personality and I think all the fears and insecurities expressed by both Belle and the Beast are spot on for people who have gone through a trauma together.

The story line was so great! This book has court intrigue, spy's, deception, and redemption. I truly enjoyed the ending and all the amazingly positive images that this book shares. It was well written and I will be recommending it once it's on our shelves!

Thank you Disney-Hyperion Publishing and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
The Queen’s Council: Rebel Rose is about what happened after Belle married the beast. The Disney fairy tale ends in happily ever after, but what if Belle and the beast had to deal with the French Revolution? The story follows Belle as she struggles with her new life as a princess. Belle and her husband the prince of Aveyon (formally known as the beast) see the start of the French Revolution on a trip to Paris. They are worried that their town will also be affected by the Revolution and are afraid their people will turn on them.
I think this book is perfect for historical fiction and fantasy lovers alike. It is an interesting retelling and I love thinking about what happened to Belle after she marries the Beast. The only thing I didn't like about the book was it was a bit boring at times. I would rate it a 3.5.